Whirligig device for automobiles



Sept. 10, 1929.

T. W. POWER WHIRLIGIG DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 17, 1928 TIE- E Tier. .1. I

TIE.

Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES TURNER W. POWER, OF BROWNWOOD, TEXAS.

WHIRLIGIG DEVICE Application filed. May 17,

This invention relates to improvements in Whirligig devices for automobiles relating more particularly to a device of this character adapted to be attached to the radiator filling spout and to act as an ornament as well as a means to attract attention during the movement of the automobile, one object of the invention being the provision of a device of this character which is easily installed and which will operate due to the movement of the Vehicle and the action of the air thereagainst.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of i this character which is simple, durable and inexpensive in construction and thoroughly efficient and practical in use.

In the drawings 2- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the filling spout end of an automobile radiator with the present device attached thereto, as in use;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the Whirligig member and its support; and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the whirligig and its supporting member.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 4 designates the filling spout of an automo- :;1 bile radiator to which is detachably connected the clamping member 5 which is the supporting member for the Whirligig, as will presently appear.

The member 5 consists of a single piece of metal bent to form a pair of open resilient arms 6 adapted to embrace the spout 4: and having apertures in their terminals 7 to receive the ends of a coiled spring 8 for holding the clamping members in engagement with said filling spout, as illustrated. The strip is bent upon itself between its ends to form a tapered receptacle 9 for the reception of the pointed end 12 of the supporting rod 11 and also to form between said receptacle and the arms 6 a pair of substantially parallel portions secured together by a rivet 10. Upon the rod 11 is secured a ferrule or inverted cap 13 in which is mounted the lower end of a sleeve is which is of increasing internal diameter FOR AUTOMOBILES.

1928. Serial No. 278,557. a

from its lower to its upper end, the upper end of the rod being projected above this sleeve for apurpose to presently appear.

The Whirligig 15 here shown is a plate, rectangular in plan, but which may be of any desired shape, and adapted to carry any ornamentation that may, be selected. This plate is provided with the cent-rally disposed tube 16, ofwhich the bore and exterior are of decreasing diameters from a point between its ends to its lower end. A ball 18 of smaller diameter than the upper portion of the bore of the tube 16 is imprisoned in said tube between the closed upper end and the reduced lower end of said tube. By this means, the upper end of the rod 11 may be projected within'the tube so that the reduced end 19 thereof will engage the ball 18 and the ball will bear against the upper closed end of the tube 16 to provide an anti-frictional thrust bearing for the support of the Whirligig 15 so that the same may be rotated with the least possible friction, the lower tapered end of the sleeve 17 fitting loosely and rotating 7 within the upper end of the sleeve 14, all as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it is evident that a device of this character can be readily 80 attached to the radiator spout of an automobile, and that various types of ,whirligigs' carrying the sleeve 16 and the ball 18 may be provided, and that, due to the reduced friction at the supporting points, the slightest movement of the automobile will cause the air currents to rotate the Whirligig 15 and thus call attention to the same. It will furthermore be evident that, when the tube carried by the Whirligig is removed from the '90 rod, the ball in said tube cannot fall out of the tube and be lost.

What is claimed is 1. A Whirligig device comprising a radia tor spout-engaging clamp, a rod carried by said clamp and provided with a reduced upper end, a Whirligig, a sleeve carried by said Whirligig, said sleeve having its upper end closed and being open at its lower end to receive the free end of the rod, the bore of 1 my hand.

said sleeve being reduced at its lower open end and a thrust ball of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the reduced lower end of said sleeve confined within said sleeve between the upper end and the reduced portion of the bore of the latter, said ball forming an anti-frictional bearing between the upper end of the rod and the upper end of the sleeve.

2. A Whirligig device including a supporting member, a rod'having its lower end detachably connected to said supporting member, a sleeve carried by said rod and of increasing internal diameter toward its upper end, a Whirligig member a second sleeve carried by said Whirligig member, the lower portion of said second sleeve tapering toward its lower end to loosely fit within the upper end of said first named sleeve and being of less internal diameter than the upper portion thereof, and athrust ball in said second sleeve of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the lower end of the latter sleeve, said rod being adapted to be projected within the lower end of the second sleeve with said ball between its upper endand the upperend of said second sleeve. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set TURNER w. POWER] 

